Justice Department defends decision not to release, unredact more Epstein files

The Department of Justice (DOJ) declined Thursday to release additional unredacted records from its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, telling a federal judge that it has already adequately complied with the law.

The DOJ’s response came in the final hours of a court-ordered deadline to remove redactions in at least a dozen documents or “show cause” why it could not.

Those documents included “at least eight email exchanges with Mr. Epstein regarding a ‘torture video’ and sexual activity with young women, including minors” and interviews with a woman who claims she was abused by President Trump as a minor.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, through his attorneys, told District Judge Emmet Sullivan that his department has “devoted incredible time and resources” to reviewing more than 6 million documents in connection with the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA).

“As will become apparent, it would contravene the settled application of the EFTA for the Department to produce unredacted versions of many of the........

© The Hill